TV: Weather Channel In Stormy Battle with DirecTV

Who could have predicted the Weather Channel presentation at the Television Critics Association’s winter press tour was going to turn out to be a stormy one?

Responding to a reporter’s question, Channel President David Clark defended the channel for equating itself with a public utility in its worsening dispute with DirectTV about weather the channel will remain on that carrier’s lineup.

On the surface, this is yet another business dispute between a content provider and a content carrier. We’ve seen it with AMC shows and Dish Network, and Viacom and DirecTV in the past. But Clark maintains that it’s more than just business with regard to the Weather Channel, which works with FEMA, the Red Cross and other agencies in disasters and provides useful information.

The channel called the dispute a “public safety issue” and is urging viewers to contact members of Congress to get involved in brokering a deal between the Weather Channel and DirecTV.

The channel’s current carriage deal will expire at 12:01 Eastern time on Tuesday, Jan. 14.

The channel also welcomed 30-year weather veteran Sam Champion to its stable to anchor the Weather Channel’s new morning show. Champion said a tearful goodbye to his colleagues at ABC’s “Good Morning America” last month to take the new post at the Weather Channel.

The new show will air from 7 to 10 a.m., Champion said, and will be based on helping viewers plan their day with more information that he would get to do in just a minute during a regular news show. “What were going to do is hit that hard, lots of live coverage, complete day-part understanding.” Then they’ll add non-weather news and business headlines.